The Boqueria Market, as it is known these days, has been through many phases of life. On the following words I'll attempt to give a faithful outline of that rich history as we understand it. Where this marketplace comes from is uncertain, what we are sure of is that it was born as a travelling market, located in the Ramblas of Barcelona. La Rambla acquired growing importance as a pedestrian street, and the marketplace was set in the best place to draw in the giant numbers of passers-by and local people.

Its location was threatened a lot of times. In Catalunya, cities and cities have been set up around markets and the same rings true for La Boqueria. It originated as an open-air market, in front of one of the gates of the old city wall ( Pla de la Boqueria ) where fruit and plant traders from local towns and farms nearby would sell their products. The spaces inside the city at that time were too small to build a big market of the prevailing Boqueria kind and it was critical to set them outside of the walls.
As the market's popularity grew, farmers from neighbouring towns,eg Les Corts and Sarri were stopped from trading here. As the contest in the market grew increasingly fierce, there would be arguments and fights between the old greengrocers and the new ones. For convenience sake the markets from the two near squares were merged into one : La Rambla de Sant Josep. Fish shops, butchers, and bird shops were built surrounding the new space, forming streets by the side of the priory and the Virreina. In 1826 The Marquee of Campo Sagrado, general captain of Catalunya, started to control, for the 1st time, the successful market of La Boqueria. The new open-air market, in Rambla de Sant Jos was inaugurated on October 18th, 1827. In 1835 the elimination of the priory of Sant Josep occurred. It got replaced by a square, which would have been the grandest square in Barcelona of its time. Surrounded by porches, with gardens and fountains, it was named Plaa del Treball. Architecturally, the high columns were monumental, with a powerful allegorical sense to the work. When this regeneration was nearly complete, and at the time when works were expected to begin, it was believed necessary to temporarily install the market in the old convent of Sant Josep and so be able to remove it from the middle of la Rambla. This explains why the houses that surround and frame the market of the Boqueria form porches, which are unlike those in the present market. In 1836 when the priory of the Carmelitas vanished with its church of Saint Josep, the city hall planned the construction of the market. The project was in the hands of the designer Mas Vil. On St. Joseph's day in 1840 the first stone of the market of la Boqueria was placed. In 1848 an enclosure for the fishmonger's shop behind the palace of the Virreina was constructed. The pavilion that would later become the office of the Direction and Veterinary Services was also built. In 1861 some of the fruit and vegetable traders were permitted to settle provisionally at plaza Sant Agust and it was from this point that la Rambla was to be kept exclusively for flower stands. Many salesreps gave out a flower for the purchase of some of their products. The sale of flowers increased. In 1863 the retail places of fruit and veg settled underneath the porches. In 1869 the convent of Jerusalem, found behind the market, was demolished to allow for an extension to be built. In the Xmas of 1871, the gas lighting was introduced to the market. In 1911 the fishmonger's shop was built.

In 1914 the market with the metal roof was inaugurated. From there, it started to modernise and to boost, not only at a sanitary level, but also aesthetic, and ornamental. Over the years, La Boqueria has become the most emblematic market of all the network of markets in Barcelona. The structure, the situation, and the salesmen make it into an obligated must-see for all the tourists who visit our city. This market has for the people of Barcelona, the suggestion of robust family memories. It's mixed up with the city's history, of all our families, their popular conventions and parties. The present salespeople are mostly, of the 3rd and 4th generation of salesreps of the market. Theyare the union of the past with the present. Innovators, full of projects and restoration concepts for La Boqueria : for the new Barcelona. The commercial supply is in spades and varies seriously : fresh fish and seafood ; salted fish ; tinned groceries ; butchery and offal ; birds ; game and eggs ; fruits and veggies ; herbs ; delicatessen ; breads and pastries ; restaurants ; frozen items ; artisan products ; charcuterie ; farmers' shops ; wine ; and even a Greek and an Italian hand made pasta stall have joined the consortium/maelstrom that keeps La Boqueria alive. After all , the market is all about its people! If you like to visit the Boqueria look for a Hotel Barcellona. A Hotel a Barcellona is a good starting point to get to the center of Barcelona.